Moon Cycle/DST
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The Moon Cycle is a gameplay mechanic. It can affect Woodie's transformation, creatures' behaviors and some bosses.
A complete Moon Cycle lasts for 20 Days and then repeats. Every night, the moon phase is displayed next to the clock in the upper-right corner of the screen. It can also be observed using a Moon Dial at any time of the day, allowing players to better prepare for the Full Moon or New Moon.
After the first Moonstorm, the icon of the moon changes but everything else stays the same.
| Moon Phase | New Moon | Waxing | Waning | Full Moon | Waning | New Moon （Next Cycle） | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter Moon | Half Moon | Three Quarters Moon | Three Quarters Moon | Half Moon | Quarter Moon | ||||||
| Day(s) | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| Icon | Default | 
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| After Moonstorm | 
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Effect
Full Moon
During a full moon, the moon casts down a dim, blue-tinted light over the world, so the player can safely explore without a light source and fear of Darkness.
- The eyes on Pig Heads and Merm Heads glow white, generate an insanity aura, and drop Nightmare Fuel when hammered.
- Ghosts will emerge from any type of Graves.
- Woodie randomly turns into one of the Werebeaver, Weregoose or Weremoose.
- Pigs outside of their house will turn into Werepigs.
- Vitreoasis in the Lunar Grotto have a chance to regrow at each full moon.
- Glommer's Statue grows Glommer's Flower, which causes a Glommer to spawn nearby.
- Chester will transform into either a Shadow Chester if he has at least one Nightmare Fuel in every inventory slot or a Snow Chester if he has at least one Blue Gem in every slot.
- Mining repaired Marble Sculptures or hammering down Chess Pieces (Rook, Bishop or Knight) will summon Clockwork Rook, Clockwork Bishop and Clockwork Knight accordingly.
- The Star Caller's Staff can be transformed into a Moon Caller's Staff by placing it on the repaired Moon Stone.
- Hot Springs that have had a Bath Bomb tossed in them will change to have a Moon Glass rock in the center.
New Moon
- Mining repaired Marble Sculptures or hammering down Chess Pieces (Rook, Bishop or Knight) during new moon will summon Shadow Pieces.
Other
- Moon Dial's appearance.
- Lune Tree's Regrowth rate.
- Skittersquid spawn rate.
- Mutation Abigail on Moon Dial.
Moonstorm
Main article: Moonstorm
If players assemble all three Lunar Altars and the Mysterious Energy spawns successfully, the moon phase will be set to full moon, and the current day will turn into a full moon night until the next day. The moon phase will remain as full moon until the Celestial Champion is defeated. Once the Celestial Champion is defeated, the moon phase will become new moon, and the current day will turn into a new moon night until the next day. This will reset the moon cycle, although the period still remains 20 days, but new moon and full moon may occur on a different day than previously. Wickerbottom's Lunar Grimoire will also change the moon phase to full moon, altering the moon cycle.
Lunar Rift
Main article: Lunar Rift
When a Lunar Rift is active, Full Moon will cover the world in Enlightenment, similar to Lunar Island.
Trivia
- Since the Turn of Tides update, the moon has a crack in it.
- The moon seems to be turning, as the crack on the moon moves every moon phase.
Gallery
New moon.
Crescent moon.
Half moon.
Full moon.
The moon after the mysterious energy appears
